U.S. Army and protestors wage war of words over controversial school
By: Kristen Layne
Issue date: 11/20/09 Section: News
In the front row, hardly a yard from the stage, an elderly woman raised her hand. "How can democracy be taught at the end of a gun?" said Ruth Clark, a pacifist and opponent of the School of America.
Thus began the question and answer session in the Burgiss Theater at Nov. 10's WHINSEC/SOA debate. The night's panel pitted supporters of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation against those who called for the institute's immediate disbandment. Lee Rials, a public affairs officer for WHINSEC, was joined by Lt. Col. William Price, the Battalion Executive Officer of Furman's military science department, in support of the institution.
Opposing WHINSEC were David Gandolfo, a philosphy professor, and Clare Hanrahan, a writer from Asheville and long-time protester of the Institute who once served six months in prison after an illegal protest on a military base.
WHINSEC, formerly known as the School of the Americas, is a program run by the U.S. Army that hosts students from North, South and Central America anywhere from two weeks to a year. It teaches courses ranging from tactical and technical military skills to civil military action.
Each side of the argument was given 10 minutes to present their basic case before rebuttals and a question and answer session. First, Rials gave a brief virtual tour of the Institute, which is located at Ft. Benning, Ga. He said democracy and human rights training is a mandatory part of every course.
Then the opposing side made its case. "We need to close WHINSEC for the good of our national soul," said Gandolfo, citing numerous human rights violations by the Institute's graduates.
Gandolfo's personal interest in the Institute stems from his doctoral research on Ignacio Ellacuría, a university president who was assassinated by a death squad in El Salvador almost 20 years ago. Out of the 26 members of the squad, 19 had been trained at the SOA.
Price and Rials explained the beneficial nature of the courses, which include medical training and counter-drug measures. The program also includes a field studies program, which takes international students to "see how our government handles our democracy," said Rials.
Thus began the question and answer session in the Burgiss Theater at Nov. 10's WHINSEC/SOA debate. The night's panel pitted supporters of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation against those who called for the institute's immediate disbandment. Lee Rials, a public affairs officer for WHINSEC, was joined by Lt. Col. William Price, the Battalion Executive Officer of Furman's military science department, in support of the institution.
Opposing WHINSEC were David Gandolfo, a philosphy professor, and Clare Hanrahan, a writer from Asheville and long-time protester of the Institute who once served six months in prison after an illegal protest on a military base.
WHINSEC, formerly known as the School of the Americas, is a program run by the U.S. Army that hosts students from North, South and Central America anywhere from two weeks to a year. It teaches courses ranging from tactical and technical military skills to civil military action.
Each side of the argument was given 10 minutes to present their basic case before rebuttals and a question and answer session. First, Rials gave a brief virtual tour of the Institute, which is located at Ft. Benning, Ga. He said democracy and human rights training is a mandatory part of every course.
Then the opposing side made its case. "We need to close WHINSEC for the good of our national soul," said Gandolfo, citing numerous human rights violations by the Institute's graduates.
Gandolfo's personal interest in the Institute stems from his doctoral research on Ignacio Ellacuría, a university president who was assassinated by a death squad in El Salvador almost 20 years ago. Out of the 26 members of the squad, 19 had been trained at the SOA.
Price and Rials explained the beneficial nature of the courses, which include medical training and counter-drug measures. The program also includes a field studies program, which takes international students to "see how our government handles our democracy," said Rials.